specialty,
Pariser Schnitzel
, made with paper-thin cuts of fresh veal.
When the girl left, Krafft-Ebing continued, “Modern systems of treatment with mercury have led to progress, but still fifteen percent of the male population are estimated to be infected with the disease. We all know famous examples of those who have suffered and died. Most notably here in Vienna, the painter Hans Makart.”
Krafft-Ebing paused for a moment to cut a trim bite of schnitzel and pop it in his mouth. Werthen was growing impatientwith the man’s account, wondering what this might have to do with their own case. Gross, however, the lawyer noted, was nodding his head appreciatively at the psychologist.
“The disease proceeds in a step-by-step pattern,” Krafft-Ebing began again. “The first stage is characterized by a chancre sore that develops about three weeks after contact with an infected person. This is followed by skin rash, headache, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes about two months thereafter. The second stage. At these early stages, the disease is easiest to treat, but many ignore the symptoms, which eventually go away. The infected person may live a healthy, normal life for another year, or perhaps even ten, before the tertiary stage begins. Here begins the degeneration of the nervous system, the infection of the cardiovascular system, disorders of the spinal cord, general paralysis.” He shook his head. “A horrible disease, to be sure. Gentlemen, I still hold that sexual feeling is the root of all ethics rather than the root of all evil. When manifested for its true purpose, procreation, sex is a gift from God. Yet when used for sordid enjoyment or perverted ends, then …” He spread his hands.
By now, even Gross had grown impatient for the psychologist to connect this long aside with the business at hand.
“And you believe that syphilis plays a part in these crimes?” Gross prompted.
“You have heard of the One Hundred Club perhaps?”
Both Werthen and Gross had to shake their heads.
“A cynical association if there ever were one,” Krafft-Ebing pronounced with venom in his voice. “A society of upper-class men-I refuse to call them gentlemen-who wear what they term the badge of sexual honor. Roués and debauched members of society’s elite who have been infected with syphilis and proudly display its ravages. Many of the members are forced to wear leather noses, for in the late stages of the illness, the bacteria eats away at cartilaginous areas, including joints and the nose. It is said that Archduke Otto, younger brother of the heir apparent, FranzFerdinand, is a prominent member of the One Hundred Club. Young virgins are brought to the celebrations of this perverted group and are infected.”
“Scandalous,” Werthen blurted out.
“Inspired!” Gross exclaimed, exhibiting a contrary emotion, though not at the activities of those debauchees, but rather at Krafft-Ebing’s insight. “They are in fact ‘thumbing their nose’ at society, is that it Freiherr?”
“Afraid so,” Krafft-Ebing replied. “The ‘noseless ones’ has become, in fact, a bit of street argot for sufferers of syphilis. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that you should be looking for someone suffering from syphilis, though in stages early enough to enable them still to function. The disease has affected the mind but not yet the musculature. Far from being a Jew seeking revenge on non-Jews, your killer may well be a victim of
Treponema pallidum
with a twisted sense of persecution, wreaking a terrible vengeance on those not infected.”
SEVEN
G ross or Werthen could achieve little on the sacred Sunday in Vienna. Shops and businesses were closed; if there was no chicken in the pot for many Viennese, then at least they had a day free from the cares of the workplace. For Werthen it had been a day of rest, copying out his notes for the progress of the case thus far. Gross had, however, kept himself busy with a minute
Pariser Schnitzel
, made with paper-thin cuts of fresh veal.
When the girl left, Krafft-Ebing continued, “Modern systems of treatment with mercury have led to progress, but still fifteen percent of the male population are estimated to be infected with the disease. We all know famous examples of those who have suffered and died. Most notably here in Vienna, the painter Hans Makart.”
Krafft-Ebing paused for a moment to cut a trim bite of schnitzel and pop it in his mouth. Werthen was growing impatientwith the man’s account, wondering what this might have to do with their own case. Gross, however, the lawyer noted, was nodding his head appreciatively at the psychologist.
“The disease proceeds in a step-by-step pattern,” Krafft-Ebing began again. “The first stage is characterized by a chancre sore that develops about three weeks after contact with an infected person. This is followed by skin rash, headache, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes about two months thereafter. The second stage. At these early stages, the disease is easiest to treat, but many ignore the symptoms, which eventually go away. The infected person may live a healthy, normal life for another year, or perhaps even ten, before the tertiary stage begins. Here begins the degeneration of the nervous system, the infection of the cardiovascular system, disorders of the spinal cord, general paralysis.” He shook his head. “A horrible disease, to be sure. Gentlemen, I still hold that sexual feeling is the root of all ethics rather than the root of all evil. When manifested for its true purpose, procreation, sex is a gift from God. Yet when used for sordid enjoyment or perverted ends, then …” He spread his hands.
By now, even Gross had grown impatient for the psychologist to connect this long aside with the business at hand.
“And you believe that syphilis plays a part in these crimes?” Gross prompted.
“You have heard of the One Hundred Club perhaps?”
Both Werthen and Gross had to shake their heads.
“A cynical association if there ever were one,” Krafft-Ebing pronounced with venom in his voice. “A society of upper-class men-I refuse to call them gentlemen-who wear what they term the badge of sexual honor. Roués and debauched members of society’s elite who have been infected with syphilis and proudly display its ravages. Many of the members are forced to wear leather noses, for in the late stages of the illness, the bacteria eats away at cartilaginous areas, including joints and the nose. It is said that Archduke Otto, younger brother of the heir apparent, FranzFerdinand, is a prominent member of the One Hundred Club. Young virgins are brought to the celebrations of this perverted group and are infected.”
“Scandalous,” Werthen blurted out.
“Inspired!” Gross exclaimed, exhibiting a contrary emotion, though not at the activities of those debauchees, but rather at Krafft-Ebing’s insight. “They are in fact ‘thumbing their nose’ at society, is that it Freiherr?”
“Afraid so,” Krafft-Ebing replied. “The ‘noseless ones’ has become, in fact, a bit of street argot for sufferers of syphilis. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that you should be looking for someone suffering from syphilis, though in stages early enough to enable them still to function. The disease has affected the mind but not yet the musculature. Far from being a Jew seeking revenge on non-Jews, your killer may well be a victim of
Treponema pallidum
with a twisted sense of persecution, wreaking a terrible vengeance on those not infected.”
SEVEN
G ross or Werthen could achieve little on the sacred Sunday in Vienna. Shops and businesses were closed; if there was no chicken in the pot for many Viennese, then at least they had a day free from the cares of the workplace. For Werthen it had been a day of rest, copying out his notes for the progress of the case thus far. Gross had, however, kept himself busy with a minute
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